Join Friends of Rogers Environmental Educator Ellen Rathbone for Frosty Morning Exploration at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 13. She will also lead the Monday Morning Rambles around the Rogers Center property at 10 a.m. on January 8 and 15, and at 9 a.m. for offsite hikes on January 22 and 29. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

SHERBURNE — The Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, located at 2721 State Route 80 in Sherburne, will be hosting several outdoor activities this month aimed at discovering the wonders of winter.

Rogers Environmental Educator Ellen Rathbone leads the Monday Morning Rambles each week, which are group walks around Rogers Center as well as nearby locales.

Rathbone said the walks usually last around an hour and a half to two hours, and are open to anyone, including hikers of all experience levels.

“We are not going for distance and speed, we are following our curiosity,” said Rathbone. “Sometimes we’re into the mushrooms, sometimes it’s birds, sometimes it’s wildflowers. It won’t be wildflowers this month, but it’s whatever catches our attention.”

When the group will be hiking the Rogers property, the group meets at 10 a.m., and for off-site adventures they meet at 9 a.m. and carpool to the location.

The next Monday Morning Ramble will be on Monday, January 8 at 10 a.m. walking the Farm Tower Trail at Rogers Center. January 15 will also begin at 10 a.m. and cover the Channels and Boundary Trails at Rogers. Weather permitting, the group will be meeting at Rogers at 9 a.m. on January 22 and traveling to Round Pond State Forest. The January 29 Ramble will also begin at 9 a.m., with a trip offsite to Nichols Pond.

On Saturday, January 13, Rathbone will also be leading a hike from 10 to 11:30 a.m. around the Rogers Center property to explore and discover elements of nature that are apparent on a chilly winter morning.

As with the Monday Morning Ramble walks, Rathbone said this hike will largely be led by what interests attendees.

“Well we’re going to be following our curiosity. So if we start to see a lot of really cool fungus, we’ll look at the fungus. If we get intrigued by mosses and lichens, we’ll be looking at mosses and lichens. Right now skunk cabbage is coming up, we may go and look at the skunk cabbage,” she said. “It really depends on what’s happening. If we are extremely lucky and get hoarfrost that morning, we’ll be looking at frost forms and ice forms. So it really just depends on what’s out there that particular day.”

“I think we can rule out insects, but you never know. It could be really, really mild and suddenly there are insects and spiders all over the place,” she added. “We can’t predict anything these days. I mean, 20 years ago it would’ve been looking at tracks and scats and things like that, but I can’t even offer that now. So it’s a mystery grab bag.”

The Frosty Morning Exploration is a family-friendly event suitable for all ages and experience levels. Attendance is free thanks to sponsorship by the Otis Thompson Foundation, but pre-registration is required.

To sign up, call Friends of Rogers at 607-674-4733, or email Rathbone at ellen@friendsofrogers.org. Rathbone asks registrants to include their name, how many people will be attending, if they’re adults or children, ages of children if applicable, a phone number, and an email address.

For young hikers and environmentalists, Friends of Rogers will be bringing back the Storytime and Hike program. Local youth can join Rogers Children’s Program Coordinator Jenni Larchar every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to noon for stories, songs, and a hike on the Rogers Center trails.

The program is free to attend for all ages, and no pre-registration is required. Attendees are encouraged to dress for the weather, and will meet at the Rogers Visitor Center.

More winter fun is on the way at Rogers Center. Keep an eye on the Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc. Facebook page for upcoming details about the annual Winter Living Celebration, scheduled for February 3.

For more information on Friends of Rogers, visit FriendsofRogers.org or the Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc. Facebook page.